England rugby four 'free to leave New Zealand'
Saturday, 21 Jun 2008 08:58
Four England rugby players decline to be interviewed by New Zealand police over hotel sex assault allegations
Four England rugby players at the centre of a serious sexual assault allegation in New Zealand are free to leave the country, reports claim.
Auckland City police confirmed on Friday it was investigating claims of a serious sexual assault and possible rape involving members of the England rugby team.
The alleged incident is said to have taken place at the team's hotel at Auckland after their 37-20 defeat to the All Blacks, but the woman who brought the matter to the police's attention is yet to make a formal statement.
And according to the New Zealand Herald newspaper, police have said there is no reason to restrict the movement of the four players nor detain them.
The report follows police confirmation that the four players have declined to be interviewed at this stage.
"Auckland City police will continue to investigate the allegation - that a woman was raped and/or sexually assaulted by four players - as thoroughly as possible before reviewing the file," a police statement continued.
"Any decision about where to take matters from there will depend on the outcome of that review."
The RFU said the four players continued to enjoy the "full support of the England management, coaches and players".
"Those players have each received legal advice from lawyers engaged to independently consider their interests," a statement explained.
"In the absence of any formal complaint in this matter the players were advised to decline the request made to them to voluntarily attend upon the police and it is fully within their rights to do so."
Rugby Football Union (RFU) chief executive Francis Baron told BBC News of the frustration felt by the England camp over the allegations.
"No complaint has still been made, the police therefore are unable to progress their investigation," he said.
"We are desperate to clear the players' names but we're in a very strange situation - with no allegations, no complaint being made - as to exactly how the name of the players can be cleared."